Bill Text: TX HB2748 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 2748

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners confined in county jails.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to County Affairs [HB2748 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2748-Introduced.html

	88R10340 MCF-D

	By: Romero, Jr.	H.B. No. 2748



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners
	confined in county jails.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Sections 511.024, 511.025, and 511.026 to read as follows:
	Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission
	shall require the sheriff of a county to designate one employee at
	the county jail to serve as the family liaison officer for the jail
	to facilitate the maintenance of ties between prisoners and their
	families for the purpose of reducing recidivism.
	(b) The family liaison officer shall:
	(1) provide prisoners' families with information about
	the classification status, location, and health of prisoners at the
	county jail;
	(2) notify prisoners about emergencies involving
	their families and provide prisoners with other necessary
	information relating to their families;
	(3) assist prisoners' families and other persons
	during visits with prisoners and aid those persons in resolving
	problems that may affect permitted contact with prisoners; and
	(4) inform individuals who possess a reference number
	described by Section 511.025 when the applicable prisoner requires
	any medical attention outside of routine medical checks.
	Sec. 511.025. MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION FORM. (a) The
	commission shall adopt a medical authorization form for a prisoner
	to authorize the release of the prisoner's medical information by
	the county jail to an individual named in the form.
	(b) On request of a prisoner, a county jail shall submit to
	the commission a medical authorization form signed by the prisoner.
	As soon as practicable after receiving the form, the commission
	shall provide a reference number by mail or facsimile to:
	(1) the individual named by the prisoner in the form;
	and
	(2) the county jail that submitted the form.
	(c) An individual named in a medical authorization form may
	obtain medical information concerning the prisoner from the
	applicable county jail, including the family liaison officer for
	the county jail, by providing the reference number described by
	Subsection (b) to the county jail.
	Sec. 511.026. COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS AND REPORT. (a) On
	receipt by the commission of a complaint alleging abuse or neglect
	of a prisoner, including medical neglect, or unsafe conditions at a
	county jail, the commission shall check on the health and
	well-being of prisoners at the jail.
	(b) Not later than February 1 of each year, the commission
	shall submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house
	of the legislature a report on the complaints described by
	Subsection (a) that the commission received during the preceding
	year. The report must include, for each county jail, the total
	number of:
	(1) complaints submitted;
	(2) complaints submitted for each category of
	allegation, including complaints alleging medical neglect and
	complaints alleging that the family liaison officer for the jail
	failed to disclose medical information to an individual who
	possesses a reference number described by Section 511.025; and
	(3) complaints that were resolved by the commission.
	(c) The commission may submit the report required under
	Subsection (b) with the report required under Section 511.015.
	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the form
	required by Section 511.025, Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.